Cooper factory clock tower


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Cooper factory clock tower
Posted by: WayOutWardell (63.226.79.---)
Date: April 18, 2008 10:28PM

There's been recent work on the old Frederick Cooper Lamp factory on Diversey; the facade on the tower that once had the company name and "Lamps Of Elegance" on it has been removed, uncovering the original features including a filled-in area on all four sides where the clocks once were.

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Re: Cooper factory clock tower
Posted by: mark (---.illinois.net)
Date: May 14, 2008 04:12PM

The building is being rehabbed to house dozens of small businesses selling "green" products for home construction and remodeling.

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Re: Cooper factory clock tower
Posted by: jclillig (---.dsl.chcgil.sbcglobal.net)
Date: May 15, 2008 04:25AM

According to the latest Preservation Chicago newsletter, the building was originally known as the Vassar Swiss Underwear Building:

http://flickr.com/photos/bwchicago/2459294715/

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Re: Cooper factory clock tower
Posted by: Jacob (---.arm-bsr1.chi-arm.il.cable.rcn.com)
Date: May 16, 2008 02:35AM

Yep, not sure when it became the lamp factory. 1951 fire insurance map states that its still the underwear factory. Textile factories were a major industry on the northwest side, especially along the C&NW railroad.

--
Jacob Kaplan - Editor
Forgotten Chicago

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Re: Cooper factory clock tower
Posted by: WayOutWardell (63.226.79.---)
Date: June 03, 2008 04:21PM

I think the Cooper company took over the factory in the late 60s or early 70s.

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Re: Cooper factory clock tower
Posted by: WayOutWardell (63.226.79.---)
Date: June 04, 2008 03:33PM

I noticed today that two of the clock faces are being refinished for reuse; there are faint hour markings on them. Cool!

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Re: Cooper factory clock tower
Posted by: tomcat630 (---.hsd1.il.comcast.net)
Date: June 07, 2008 03:33PM

I'm glad this building wasn't leveled, and it looks better with removing the 50's/60's decor.

There used to be a similar big office/warehouse building at Kennedy and Kimball, for defunct I.S. Berlin Co. Now, the stores there are empty.

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Re: Cooper factory clock tower
Posted by: WayOutWardell (63.226.79.---)
Date: June 09, 2008 07:06PM

I vaguely remember the clock tower at that intersection; it was demolished when I was very young. If memory serves, it had a blue or green lit clock face.

It will be nice to gain a timepiece on the Kennedy. It's looked barren since the Stewart-Warner factory came down.

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Re: Cooper factory clock tower
Posted by: WayOutWardell (63.226.79.---)
Date: October 30, 2008 04:39PM

Instead of working clock mechanisms, the tower faces will have a backlit sign on all four sides. Weak.

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Re: Cooper factory clock tower
Posted by: WayOutWardell (---.dsl.chcgil.sbcglobal.net)
Date: August 17, 2009 08:00PM

The work on the building seems to have stopped over the past few months.

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